Forget your mod-cons, a quintessential 18th century interior classic is causing all the buzz this season.
The overarching theme for home interiors all across the Nordics is simplicity. This means lots of sleek lines, usually in neutral colours, and carefully coordinated settings that often play it safe. But now it's time to change things up, swapping futuristic aesthetics for rustic throwback elegance as the Swedish tiled stove – or kakelugn – is having a rebirth.
In 1767, Swedish architect Carl Johan Cronstedt developed the classic tiled stove with Fabian Wrede. Originally a plain generator, the piece quickly became standard in homes across the country, proving to be more efficient at heating rooms than its precursors.
Construction became key, with the kakelugn utilising multiple brick flues to optimise and maintain its heat. Whereas previously homes had been heated with regularly topped up or relit fires, the new stoves could radiate warmth for up to 12 hours from a tiny fire. The invention thus revolutionised Scandinavian living standards.
The first kakelugns were characterised by pearlescent finishes and grandiose cylindrical designs, making them very much the preserve of upper-class households. Yet their fuel efficiency led to plainer versions spreading throughout the Nordics in the18th century. Now, in 2022, the stove is seeing a renaissance thanks to a growing infatuation with all things vintage.
Photo: Image courtesy of Historiska Hem
Photo: Image courtesy of Historiska Hem
Gothenburg-based interior stylist and set designer Sophia Bratt has noticed the shift. “We’ve grown an interest for building maintenance and culture,” she says. “We see the value in the ornament that a stove actually is, and appreciate it.”
This interest in the kakelugn goes beyond its function and is now in fashion. “Besides being beautiful, I think that the revival comes with our generation’s distinct interest in culture. In vintage, greater quality, and truly maintaining what’s precious to us,” says Danish architect and creative director Anne Charlotte Vogel of the stove’s newfound fame not only in the Nordics but across the world.
Vogel notes that turning the stove into a centrepiece in your home can be done in many ways. “If you are lucky enough to have an original Scandinavian stove at home, keep it as it is. It’s already a standout feature,” she says.
Photo: Petra Tungarden
If you plan to upgrade an existing stove, or want to invest in one, go traditional, says Vogel. “Knowing that it has history will make it feel even more precious,” she adds.
For placement, the corner of a room is traditional and impactful “It doesn’t just add statement factor. It also means the stove becomes the heart of your home,” says Bratt, who also recommends allowing the stove to set the ambience for a naturally welcoming, cosy space. “Place a chaise or a sofa near the stove,” she says, “and if there’s a built-in shelf, add a few candles and vases to the mix.”
Vogel agrees: “Simply arrange multiple candles in varying heights and sizes inside the stove. Make sure to keep the door open, and just enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.”